Over so many years, I must have been asked hundreds of thousands of questions on various topics. Even though the number of possible questions that can be asked is huge, there are really only five types of questions. Click here to read in detail the "Five types of questions" that Sri Sri is referring in the above lines..................                 Note: Unable to see the above images? Please click on 'Display images' in your mail Art of Living Universe: Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus | YouTube | Pinterest

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar visited Calgary and Regina

Whenever Guruji comes in April to Canadian Art of Living center, by the time he leaves the snow is either melting or the lime green buds on the trees are opening.  He reminds us that we are more than the definitions we give to our selves and of our capacity to create a better world.  Through meditation and knowledge he brings us back to center by giving us the tools that keep us rested and that allow us to go forward to create a world where human values can end violence and corruption and bring about a peaceful co-existence.  For those of us who have heard him speak many times, still, we are struck by the simplicity and practicality of the wisdom he shares. After leaving the Centre he visited Regina for the first time where he met with the Mayor and the Minister of Culture. An evening of Wisdom and Meditation brought 500 people to a talk by Sri Sri.  In Calgary, where he spoke in 2006 for the Silver Jubilee of the Art of Living, there were two events.  One Thousand people attended the first and the Seed Conference, the second, had 2,500 attendees. He was also the keynote speaker for medical symposium, the Science of Yoga & Meditation in Health Promotion, which brought together over 200 Health Professionals.  There were also meeting with the Minister of Wellness, the Minister of Justice, the Mayor and other members of the Alberta Parliament.  Audiences were charmed by his naturalness and comfortableness and the knowledge that we can have a better life by working together and caring for our selves and each other. Source: Aolcenter Canada                 Note: Unable to see the above images? Please click on 'Display images' in your mail Art of Living Universe: Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus | YouTube | Pinterest

Download Sri Sri Calendar for May 2013

Jai guru dev,  Dear ones,  Download May 2013 Calendar with beautiful pic of Sri Sri (Gurudev), by visiting the Art of Living Universe website.  www.calendars.artoflivinguniverse.org PS: Send us a blank email to calendars@artoflivinguniverse.org and get notified as soon as the new calendars are uploaded. Find below the recent pics of Sri Sri's Visit to Calgary, Canada. http://www.artoflivinguniverse.org/2013/04/Sri-Sri-launches-I-Meditate-Calgary-2013-photos.html                 Note: Unable to see the above images? Please click on 'Display images' in your mail Art of Living Universe: Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus | YouTube | Pinterest

Message of non-violence comes at right time

On the same day as the bombings at the Boston Marathon, a world-renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader spoke in Regina.Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was in the Queen City to deliver a message of peace and to make a plea for non-violence. A crowd of several hundred gathered at the Conexus Arts Centre on April 15 for what was billed as “an evening of wisdom and meditation with Sri Sri.” Just hours earlier, people had been shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic events unfolding in Boston. Sri Sri is on a global mission to promote his campaign for a “violence-free stress-free society.” He has travelled the world, promoting peace, for years but after the December shootings in Newton, Conn., he decided to launch a new campaign. His goal is to create social change through non-violence. He asks people to commit an act of non-violence for every violent act they witness. He also shared ways people can reduce the stress in their lives, because, according to Shankar, stress is one of the leading forces behind violence. “I could use a lesson how to reduce my stress,” laughed Regina Mayor Michael Fougere, who welcomed Shankar to Regina at the event. People are invited to take a pledge on the website Nonviolence No Higher Calling (www.nonvio.org). Shankar’s goal is to reach a billion acts of non-violence. Supporters are asked to create their own act of non-violence on the web page or commit to one of the suggestions, like honouring women or standing up to abuse. Sri Sri said there are three types of violence: Religious or racist terrorists, people acting out of stress and people who do it for entertainment without realizing the seriousness of their actions. “To combat these three types (of violence) we need to make the society, the general population and the kids more aware of it.” Sri Sri’s idea for eliminating violence in the world is simple. He believes that if more people can eliminate stress through their lives through meditation and other methods, they will be less inclined to act out violently. “Today the world is in bad shape, not because of a few bad guys but because many good people are not acting. My idea was to have all those good people take a proactive stance against violence.” He said non-violence begins at home with your loved ones and by creating harmony in your family. “Don’t get upset immediately. Take your turn to get upset,” he said with a laugh. “Don’t be so quick to get mad when you feel you’ve been wronged. “If someone is not good to you or a little nasty to you, you don’t need to repeat that. You can reply with an act of kindness.” Sri Sri founded the Art of Living Foundation in 1981 in Bangalore, India. It is now the world’s largest volunteer-based non-governmental organization in the world, with locations in 150 countries. Programs on meditation, stress elimination and yoga, along with traditional Ayurvedic medicine are offered to people from all religious and cultural backgrounds. Bangalore’s Art of Living international headquarters is a sprawling oasis of manicured gardens, traditionally-crafted buildings and animal sanctuaries, separated from the bustling city by a high wall and innumerable trees. Underprivileged youth study their lessons in one area (the foundation supports 25,000 students and has founded 220 schools). People flock to a huge lotus-shaped meditation hall in another area. Sri Sri spends between 150 to 200 days every year spreading his peace message and meeting with global leaders. Joy is what drives Sri Sri to travel the world and speak to crowds that number in the hundreds of thousands. “When you see a nice movie, you have a tendency to call your friends and say ‘see it. It’s so good.’ Why (do) we do that? The nature of happiness is to spread it. The nature of joy is to share. You don’t say when you’re happy ‘leave me alone, I’m so happy.’ When you’re happy you simply want to share it with everybody.” Source: Leader Post                 Note: Unable to see the above images? Please click on 'Display images' in your mail Art of Living Universe: Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus | YouTube | Pinterest

The meaning of life in 5 days

The ancient scriptures say that we are all floating like shells in a vast ocean of life. Even though everybody is born out of the same consciousness, no two lives are the same. As diverse as our lives are, they are inter-dependent on each other and there is something to learn from everyone. To get an all-round exposure to life, take out not too many but just five days. Spend one day with a farmer. Go with him to the farm early in the morning and see whatever he does throughout the day. You will become sensitive towards the environment, towards food. One third of the food in the world is wasted and thrown. Spending the day watching the farmer will let us know the hard work and resources that go into producing food. And then we will think twice before wasting it. Spend one day in jail (but without committing a crime). You will realise that the people we label as criminals and put in prisons landed there due to circumstances, due to ignorance. When anger grips a person, he is not in control of his actions. If you ask the most hardened criminal, they will say, “I didn’t do it. Something came over me and it just happened.” It will become evident that inside every culprit there is a victim crying for help. Compassion will arise in your heart. If you have hatred in your heart towards anybody, that hatred will vanish. On the third day, become a school teacher. You will understand why a guru is needed. Wherever you are in life, there are so many people whom you can help and guide. It brings a deep satisfaction within. It’s not that only those with long hair and beard can be gurus. Everybody can play the role for at least some people. You don’t really need a special skill to be a guru, you need compassion. Being a teacher, you can channel that compassion to people. “I want nothing but my student should progress.” Such unconditional love comes to our life. Spend the fourth day in a mental institution. Whatever anybody in a mental hospital says to you, whatever names they call you, you won’t take it to heart. After spending a day when anybody can say anything to you, you will develop the strength to face criticism without being shaken. Not only will you be strong enough to accept all criticism, you will have compassion for those who criticise you. We get anxious over small matters. “What does he/she think about me?” We are shaken and then we react to these things. You should have the courage to give criticism and the courage to receive criticism as well. If we teach our children this, they will grow into strong and stable members of society. Spend one day in the cemetery or funeral home. You will have a very close and intense experience of the impermanence of life. Whatever complaints you have will vanish. Having the experience that death can come anytime will change your perspective on life for good. Just a formal education is not enough. It is important to explore different dimensions of life to get a holistic education. When we keenly see the different facets of life unfolding around us, it makes us centered and established in our self. Source: Niticentral                 Note: Unable to see the above images? Please click on 'Display images' in your mail Art of Living Universe: Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus | YouTube | Pinterest

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar meets Japanese Prime Minister

The Art of Living Founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar met Prime Minister of Japan, Mr Shinzo Abe on 23rd April. Mr. Shinzo Abe appreciated the work of The Art of Living in the country and lauded Sri Sri's vision of a stress-free, violence-free world. Sri Sri who landed in Tokyo on 22 April for a four-day visit met several Japanese and Indian dignitaries at the welcome reception hosted by Indian Ambassador, Mr. Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa . He will also address the Japan- India youth meet during this time. Several Japanese Parliamentarians , opinion leaders, top bureaucrats , industrialists called on him during his visit to Japan. Source: beforeitnews Click on the link below and view the stunning pics of recent visit of Sri Sri to Calgary, Canada. http://www.artoflivinguniverse.org/2013/04/Sri-Sri-launches-I-Meditate-Calgary-2013-photos.html                 Note: Unable to see the above images? Please click on 'Display images' in your mail Art of Living Universe: Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus | YouTube | Pinterest

Snaps of recent Sri Sri's trip to Banff, Canada

Dear Ones, Find below the recent pics of Sri Sri's Visit to Banff, Canada. http://www.artoflivinguniverse.org/2013/04/Sri-Sri-Ravi-Shankar-in-Banff-Canada-2013-photos.html Visit and Share. Jai guru dev :)                 Note: Unable to see the above images? Please click on 'Display images' in your mail Art of Living Universe: Facebook | Twitter | Google Plus | YouTube | Pinterest